Sun, 4 Jun 2000, 12:52 PM GRAND BEND - IHRA.com Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations

By Debi Shepard

GRAND BEND, Ont. - Results of round 1 eliminations in IHRA.com Funny Car at the Inaugural Mopar Parts Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  12 Dale Brand          6.031 232.85  Q    5 Jimmy Rector        5.939 234.37
 *****WINNER***** 0.444  6.071 233.22  E1                  0.451  7.426 103.75

12:23 PM Overcast skies and temp's in the seventies greet this first round of eliminations. Rector gets way out of shape around 200 feet and crosses over the centerline, just missing Brand.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  16 Chris Hunt          6.096 228.13  Q    1 Rob Atchison        5.885 234.61
                  0.500  6.116 223.38  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.586  5.915 233.40

That was a drag race, both cars side-by-side. The crowd favorite Atchinson getting a round of applause.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  15 Paul Athey          6.082 232.61  Q    2 Terry Munroe        5.889 231.06
 *****WINNER***** 0.490  6.483 155.14  E1                  0.488  7.806 129.03

Both cars having trouble just past the tree, Munroe giving it up early.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  14 James Spencer       6.065 227.79  Q    3 Von Smith           5.921 237.21
                  0.519  6.165 193.59  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.487  5.969 235.47

Spencer popped a blower before the lights. Von on a good, solid pass.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  13 Paul Noakes         6.042 231.30  Q    4 Scott Weney         5.938 238.79
                  0.000 No Time        E1 *****WINNER***** 0.504  5.938 237.09

Noakes breaks something in the rear end, the Mustang shuddering violently off the line past the tree. He's towed off the track.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  17 Adam Szeler         6.152 234.00  Q    6 Mark Thomas         5.966 240.38
                  0.952  6.045 229.06  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.503  6.016 240.32

Thomas easily takes the win, Szeler taking a small snooze on the line.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
  10 Herb Rodgers        6.009 226.81  Q    7 Frederick Tigges    5.974 237.84
                  0.548  6.375 171.23  E1 *****WINNER***** 0.492  6.127 230.29

Tigges using up a lot of race track to get this win.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   9 Monty Todd          5.986 231.54  Q    8 Billy Gibson        5.984 237.78
 *****WINNER***** 0.000 No Time        E1                  0.349  5.933 230.35

Todd taking a chance, turns on the red light.